Parallel Bars C Skills

C SKILLS

The 3 step 1/1 pierouette is a forward 1/4 pierouette, a reverse 1/2 pierouette and another forward 1/4 pierouette. The gymnast should be solid on both forward and reverse pierouettes.

Work 3 step 1/1s on floor with tape lines indicating bar location. This will enable the gymnast to focus on the technique of the skill without worrying about the bars.

It is critical to stay tight and extended with open shoulders throughout. There is a tendency to pike the shoulders on the second step of the skill resulting in the gymnast coming off of the bars.

During the 1/2 reverse phase the gymnast must reach under themselves for the bar, they will be slightly off balance over the opposite bar. This is where most gymnasts fall, generally to the outside of the bar from being to far over the single rail.

Drill: Stack mats or use port-a-pits next to the bar so that the top of the stack is well above the bars. The mats should be next to the bar opposite the support arm. The gymnast should execute a swing 3/4 turn to support on 1 bar with their feet or legs on the mats. This will develop to a swing 3/4 turn to handstand on 1 bar. The gymnast then just needs to reach for the other bar to execute a diomidov.

Straddling and loose legs are a common problem in this skill. Ensure that the gymnasts legs are together and tight.

An open body is also essential. Piking is another common problem and should be avoided from the beginning.

The gymnast should ride the swing as long as possible. This will help to open the shoulders making the turn significantly easier.

Though not a difficult skill to learn, this is a difficult skill to be consistent on.

The common error on this skill is to bend the arms resulting in a forward roll on the bars.

Drill: Have the gymnast hold a forward support on floor, slightly arched, shoulders shrugged. Lift the gymnasts feet and toss them up and over the gymnast (of course the gymnast should be briefed). The gymnast should try and land in an extended rear support.

A good shrug and pop are essential to making the skill.

The gymnast must reach for the bar quickly so that support can be established before the gymnasts full weight is on the bars.

Take a broomstick in your support arm for the healy (right for this discussion). Hold it straight up above your head palm facing in. Rotate the stick counterclockwise as you bring your arm backwards until the stick has rotated 360 degrees and your arm is down by your side.

This skill should be worked on floor to an 8" mat to develop a feel for it.

The shoulder must be pushed out as much as possible to allow for a smooth rotation in the shoulder complex.

The turn should be completed as early as possible so the support can be re-established before the bottom of the swing.

After the gymnast has shown a tight extended healy on floor, graduate to a set of parralettes next to a stack of mats. The mats should be higher than the bars.

After the gymnast shows consistency in catching the bar graduate to the high bars with a thin mat across the bars.

An ideal mat is an old mat that will get pulled through the bars as the gymnast completes the skill, but one that slows the swing somewhat.